Kukla's Korner Hockey

Murray and Alfredsson have a tremendous relationship and will need to draw on that in four to six weeks when the veteran star winger is scheduled to return from a shoulder injury. If it’s six weeks, it will be right on the eve of the Olympic Games, and that makes the Sens nervous.

“That’s the whole thing, it’s right on the bubble,” Murray told ESPN.com from the world junior championships in Saskatchewan.

So Murray and Alfredsson had a chat a few days ago to make sure everybody is on the same wavelength.

“You know full well that we’re not going to hold Alfredsson back if he is healthy and ready to go. That’s not our intent,” Murray said. “In talking to Alfie, I just wanted to make sure that he’s back playing and somewhat healthy before he makes a commitment to go to there and have any further possible aggravation or whatever it may be. He’s a very caring guy. He’s a great team guy. He wouldn’t do it to jeopardize anything with our franchise, I know that. But he does want to play in the Olympics. He cares greatly, and he knows it’s probably his last kick at it.”